Churches of Wall, SD

	This chapter is from "Eastern Pennington County Memories", published by 
	The American Legion Auxilliary, Carrol McDonald Unit, Wall, South Dakota 
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Churches of Wall

Wall Methodist Church

	The Wall Methodist Church dates back to the beginning of the 
town. On Sunday, July 11, 1907, the day following the town lot sale, 
which is spoken of as the birthday of Wall, a group gathered to hold 
Sunday School and organize a Methodist Church. The meeting was held on 
the dance floor which had been built for the birthday celebration. J. 
A. Galbraith, George Schuck and Mr. Barnes were selected as trustees at 
this meeting. Services were held in various places those first years, 
including the Odd Fellow Hall and the schoolhouse.

	Records of the District Superintendent show that R. C. McReynolds 
was the first regular pastor. Plans at that time were to buy the school 
house for a church. But these plans were changed in favor of a new 
building. This was erected in 1910 on the lot south of the present Win. 
Clark home. This building was 241 x 361 with a bell tower and a 
vestibule, neatly furnished and complete with a bell. The total cost 
was $1800 and all of this was paid with the exception of $100. 

	Rev. McReynold worked hard for this project, however, it was Rev. 
C. L. Fillebrown who became the first pastor in the new church. In 1915 
this building was sold to the Catholics, who later moved the building 
to the present site of the Wall Catholic Church. The sale price was 
$1000 and this money was used to purchase a parsonage. This building 
was sold when the present parsonage was built in 1949.

	Both Wall and New Underwood, in these early days, had a Methodist 
and a Congregational Church. So in 1915 an exchange was made and the 
Congregational Church of Wall became the Wall Methodist Church. This 
was the building that was sold and removed for the present building 
which was consecrated on April 3, 1960. This 50-year-old church cost 
$1200 when built by the Congregational folks. On the building committee 
were C. M. Lewis, A. H. Williams and Win. Madding. Mrs. Emma Bruce and 
Mr. and Mrs. J. H. LeCocq were members of this early church. 
information from an early record book of the Congregational Church 
gives these names also: Brooks, Shappell, Hart, Shade, Starner, Briggs, 
Haafke, Whittemore, Todd, Jones, Grady and Rev. Alderson.

	Rev. E. J. Fish was pastor of the church following the exchange 
of buildings. Then came Rev. S. C. Cadle and Rev. J. W. Lucas. Until 
1923 Wall and Quinn made the charge, then Wasta was added and in 1958 
Wall and Wasta became the charge.

	Rev. A. E. Elsom was pastor in 1923, Rev. Fish again 1926 and 
Rev. Lucas again in 1927. Rev. James Torbert, Rev. W. J. Douglas and 
Rev. H. D. Gough were the next in line. Rev. John DeVries was pastor in 
1938, followed by Rev. Murl Wilson and Rev. Merrill Graves. Rev. D. W. 
Nankivel supplied the pulpit while he was District Superintendent and 
then came Rev. E. T. Jensen from 1948 to 1951.

	While Rev. Holman Cowherd was pastor, 1952 to 1957, plans were 
started for a new edifice. After numerous changing of ideas and plans 
the present church evolved, under the pastorship of Rev. Russell M. 
Peirce, Rev. Peirce had two uncles who were pastors here -- Rev. Ronald 
Rice in 1928 and Rev. Clarence Peirce in 1946.

	In 1962 Rev. Peirce left the charge and the present pastor of the 
Methodist Church is Rev. John A. Jacoway.

[Photo - Building exchanged with Congregationalists, removed to be 
replaced by the present building.]

[Photo - New Methodist Church - 1960]

[Photo - Choir appearing on Gospel Valley TV program, Feb., 1956. Back 
row: A. M. Smith, Don Sawvell, Don Strandell, H. M. Hatton. Front row: 
Aria and Myrna Sebade, L. Johnson, Cleone Sawvell, Capt. Glenn, Rev. 
Cowherd, Leila Poste, Ramona Strandell, Mrs. Hatton.]

St. Patrick's Church

by Esther Bielmaier

	Homesteaders began coming into the Wall Vicinity in 1905. Many 
Catholics too, came. They hoped for a pastor and eventually a church.

	The parish of Wall had four missions; Quinn, Owanka, New 
Underwood and Wall. These were under the spiritual direction of a 
priest who came from Fort Pierre, later a priest came from Philip. Mass 
was said once a month on a weekday.

	Father O'Hara was the first mission priest who came from Philip. 
After him came Father Gurden. Next to come was Father Hersch. Each of 
these priests held services in the various missions including the Luke 
Mooney farm home near Creighton, South Dakota. Father Hersch built a 
church at Milesville, South Dakota.

	In Wall, services were held on Thursday, on the second floor of 
the Frank Pratt, later the Karl Lurz Hardware Store.

	Bishop Lawler now decided to establish a resident priest in Wall.

	The Congregational Church was purchased for one thousand dollars. 
This building had sat idle for some years. With the help of the 
Extension Society, the church was renovated and remodeled shomwhat. A 
new altar was added and a sacristy. 

	Reverend John Connally was ordained in Lead on January 5, 1917 
and arriced in Wall in April, 1917. 

	At first Father Connolly rented rooms in the North part of Wall 
in the old telephone office. He got his meals at the Babcock Hotel. 
This hotel burned down some years later. Then Mr. and Mrs. John Fhoma 
boarded Father.

	It was necessary to have a Parish House, so the S. F. Kiddoo 
residence was purchased and Father moved in. This house was still the 
residence of our priest after these many years, until March 17, 1965. 
It has been remodeled, added to, and modernized.

	In 1926, the church was moved to its present location beside the 
rectory. Another sacristy, stained glass windows and a choir loft were 
added. Previously, the church had sat one block east of its present 
location.

	In 1952, the present basement was dug and the brick facing put on 
the church. Improvements were made inside the building.

	In the church, Father Connolly was honored by Pope Pious XII, who 
elevated him to the Papal honor of Domestic Prelate with the title of 
Right Reverend Monsignor Connolly. He was also dean of the Wall 
district for the Bishops of the Diocese and a member of the Board of 
Ciocesan Consultors.

	Monsignor Connolly was active in community affairs and was a 
motivating force for good throughout the area of Eastern Pennington 
County. His influence radiated far and wide, not only in his church, 
but throughout the area where people of good will reside.

	After serving faithfully and well for forty-seven years as pastor 
of St. Patricks Church in Wall, Monsignor Connolly passed away on 
January 14, 1964. He was born on February 25, 1891.

	His passing was a great loss, not only to Wall, but to a much 
larger area where he was well and favorably known as a man of finest 
ideals. He was both a good priest and a good citizen.

	Father James D. Becht was ordained in 1953. On February 24, 1964, 
he was transferred to Wall to carry on the work in St. Patricks parish, 
He had served one year at the Cathedral in Rapid City, South Dakota. In 
June of 1954, he was transferred to Kadoka where he served until coming 
to Wall. From Wall he serves St. Joseph's mission at Scenic. He 
recently received the honor of becoming the dean of the Wall district 
for the Bishops of the Diocese.

	With the stringent economy of Father Connolly and the cooperation 
of his people, Father Becht, with untiring ambition and energy and with 
the assistance of his parishoners, both men and women, has been able to 
see plans materialize in the construction of a fine new brick rectory. 
This was dedicated on March 17, 1965 and blessed by Bishop McCarty on 
March 19, 1965.

	Pray God there will be many more good years to look forward to 
and for which to be thankful.

[Photo - Father John Connolly]

[Photo - First Catholic Church and Rectory of Wall] 

[Photo - Present Catholic Church]

[Photo - Present Catholic Rectory]

[Photo Father John Connolly]

[Photo - Rev. Fr. James Becht]



First Lutheran Church
by Lola Simpfenderfer

	For many years the Lutheran Pastors who served the country 
congregations regularly conducted worship services for the people 
living in and close to the town of Wall. Services were held in the home 
of certain families and in the Methodist Church. The group continued to 
grow until it was deemed necessary to form an organized congregation. A 
meeting was held in the Wall Community Hut on October 30, 1945, in 
which seven charter members signed the New Constitution. They were: 
Martin C. Eisenbraun, E. H. Gruenhager, Anton Harnisch, John Harnisch, 
William Harnisch, Tony Krebs, and H. M. Mortensen.

	The parsonage was purchased by William Harnisch in 1945. The old 
Lutheran parsonage originally purchased by Mr. Harnisch was bought by 
Mrs. James Clark in 1958 and moved to the North edge of Wall on the 
Creighton road. Where the old parsonage used to be is the present 
location of the New Lutheran Church. 

	The old Lutheran Church was purchased from Philip, South Dakota 
and moved to Wall in July 1945. After remodeling, by the members, it 
was finally ready for the first service which was held on Christmas Day 
1946. Pastor Herman Dubbe was Pastor at the time.

	Since then Pastors that have served the First Lutheran Church 
are: Pastor T. C. Predoehl, from June 1948 to June 1955, Pastor Floyd 
Schweiger from June 1955 to August 1956, Pastor A. R. Kieschnick from 
August 1956 to December 1960, Pastor Robert Hackler from January 1960 
to June 1960 and Pastor Eberhard Klatt from July 1960 until the 
present.

	At an annual meeting in January 1957 a committee was set up to 
investigate the possibilities of a new church, as with the rapid growth 
of membership in the congregation we needed more space to worship. By 
February of 1958 plans had progressed and members voted to build a new 
church. The contract was signed in September 1958 to build the new 
church for the sum of $58,200. Many people worked long hours and days 
to finish our New House of Worship.

	The old church was purchased by Chris Williuweit and salvaged.

	The New Lutheran Church was dedicated May 3, 1959, and has a 
seating capacity of 250, a cry-room, an overflow room, choir loft. 
Downstairs we have a full basement, which consists of a large social 
hall, kitchen, two Sunday school classrooms, a stage with a dressing 
room which is also used as a classroom and rest rooms.

	The First Lutheran Church belongs to the Missouri Synod. At the 
present the congregation numbers 306 souls and 170 active communicant 
members. Our present Pastor Eberhard Klatt serves both the Wall 
congregation and the Creighton congregation.

	We have a new parsonage in the east part of town, it is an eight 
room modern home, with a recreation, utility room, and office in the 
basement, also a garage.

	Pastor Klatt has moved to Wisconsin so Pastor James Roth of Rapid 
City is our Pastor until we can call a regular one to serve us.

	Our Church Elders are Robert Simpfenderfer, Paul Goldhammer, Hugh 
Estes, and Adolph Eisenbraun. The president of the congregation is Emil 
Muller; and president of the Ladies Aid is Mrs. Lois Lynch.

[Photo - Original First Lutheran Church of Wall]

[Photo - Present First Lutheran Church]